Lynx II, hull # 4225

[chris vickery]

The worst that I have ever seen is at a local museum here in Ontario that more or less resembles a pine tree drawn by a kindergarten student at best.
Not sure if they ever changed it but God awful comes to mind...
It always amazes me at the amount of time, money and effort guys will spend to create a beautiful restoration only to wreck it with crappy and incorrect markings...
BTW, I just happen to know where there is a stash of NOS water transfer decals available. I believe they are 5 Div.

[Peter Duggan]

Chris/Dave,

Thanks for your comments. The only reference that I have been able to locate is green over cobalt blue for the unit colours. Of course there a multitude of varieties of both colours.

Early in my search I was told how widely the troops applied their markings to their vehicles. The pictures that I have found seem to prove that point. I've attached a picture of my formation sign for the Ist Canadian Infantry Division, and one from the RCDs on a Humber (??) for the correct period. Fortunately it's only paint and can be redone, if need be.

Peter

[chris vickery]

There you have it ! A correct period maple leaf.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Peter, I think you've nailed it. The leaf seen on those decals people have been talking about, and typical of those in NW Europe are distinctly different than the one you have used. The NW Europe ones are skinnier, symmetrical and have an almost Christmas tree shape (as in your lower Staghound pic). The one you've used must come from a different stencil more commonly used in Sicily and Italy. It is wider and has a droopy lobe on the bottom. It's the leaf I tried to duplicate for the 5th Division sign on my carrier and shows up quite often in wartime Italy/Sicily pics.

And as Rob has nicely pointed out, it's not that Liberal hippy-era stylized 'leaf' we have in the middle of our current flag.

[David Dunlop]

Nice job, Peter!

David

[rob love]

Originally Posted by Bruce Parker

And as Rob has nicely pointed out, it's not that Liberal hippy-era stylized 'leaf' we have in the middle of our current flag.

Stephen Harper had floated the idea of going back to the red Ensign.....if only he had managed one more term...

[Peter Duggan]

Guys,

I find it quite a contrast that some paint will make. Again, I'm quite biased, but the Lynx is starting to look like the real thing.

I figure that at my pace I will have several years before she's finished with all the bugs worked out.

For comparison I've included the first picture that I saw of the Lynx.

Peter

[Jordan Baker]

Looking amazing. Shall we see it this weekend at the Oshawa Aquino event?

[David Dunlop]

I wonder if the building she was assembled in looks as good today, Peter?

David

[Peter Duggan]

Jordan,

Yes, I’m planning on attending Aquino with the Lynx. Hope to see you at the OMVA compound.
Still dealing with leaks. (Don’t want to take your advice literally)

Peter

[Jordan Baker]

Can’t wait to see it.

[Peter Duggan]

Guys,

Trailered the Lynx to the OMVA site at the Ontario Tank museum during their Aquino weekend. This show continues to grow and is quite an event. Well worth seeing.

Thanks to Mike Rashotte, I was introduced to Don White a WW 11 veteran who served with the RCD during the Italian and NW campaigns. A fascinating, articulate and energetic individual who volunteers at the museum. Don spent most of his active career crewing their Staghounds.

Limited the Lynx's participation to the display area since she's still shod with the original RF tires. Thanks to some sharp eyed observations I was gently informed that my plumbing for my overflow tank was incorrect. Thanks, this will save me a potentially ugly collapse of my radiator tanks.

I highly recommend this event to military enthusiasts, I was also able to connect with several individuals who have helped with the restoration.

Peter

[Russ Gregg]

Peter, It was a pleasure to meet you this past weekend and see your Lynx. A wonderful project, great to see it rescued and repatriated.

[Peter Duggan]

Russ,

Thanks you for your comments. It was a pleasure to meet you in person and trade tales. If that picture I took for you, worked out, you should share it on this thread and your Lynx story.

Les Fisher sent me this video from last weekend.

Peter

https://youtu.be/34URnFPqEeg

[Jon Bradshaw]

I have seen the work you have put into it and it is great to see it finally making it out to shows. You are always learning something new when you stand and talk to the "old guys" who used these vehicles. The best way to draw out the stories is to have the vehicle there to see.

[Peter Duggan]

Guys,

We've had the pleasure to have our two youngest granddaughters visiting since last month. Having two precocious young ladies aged six and ten have definitely changed the dynamics here.
Needless to say, there wasn't much opportunity to work on the Lynx. This is the closest I got to it during their visit. With a couple of days to recover I should soon be back at it.
Peter

[Peter Duggan]

Guys,

Just received a great picture from Barry Churcher of his C15TA and Dirk Leegwater's Lynx during a trip to Normandy. I'm always looking for pictures of Lynxes whether they be new or old. This picture is several years old and Stefan Leegwater is between the two vehicles.

Peter

[chris vickery]

Peter, It would be neat to re-create the pic, considering you have a great looking Lynx and Stefan's C15TA now resides with Barry C here in Canada.

[Peter Duggan]

Chris,

I've got a lot to do to get the Lynx up to the same standard, but that is one of my goals along with Bruce Parker's Fox and carrier.
The last of the storage bins is now installed. The original issue padlocks were manufactured by Corbin, in Belleville, which is just down the road. I've attached a picture of a Lynx 11, from a South African museum, for reference. In my mind this is an unrestored Lynx 11 which even has the original paint.

Peter

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Peter, you let me drive your Lynx and you can have all the time on the Fox you want. The carrier too if you're a sucker for punishment.

The Corbin locks were indeed made in Belleville and the factory was still there when I worked there in the mid-1990's (just west of the Moira River and north of Highway 2) but it's gone now. Luckily they are a commercial lock and, other than the 'Made in Canada' that you want for yours, the American made ones are identical save for that. The Fox takes 4, the carrier 5, and the HUW a staggering 8. If you or anybody else has any spare one kicking about...

[rob love]

I have always bought mine from Dirk Leegwater. He will even match them up into sets keyed alike where possible.

[David Dunlop]

You can also get them keyed alike at any good lockxmith’s.

David

[rob love]

Yeah, for about twice the price of the locks.

[Peter Duggan]

Bruce,

You have a deal, you may want to wait until I’ve changed out the tires. Rob is right, I got my locks from LWD, five in total. Now to find the correct sizing for the screen over the radiator and start gathering information and parts for the observer/gunners seat.

Peter

[Peter Duggan]

Guys,

I was prepping the Lynx for this weekend's FMVA Bivouac and decided it was time to give the Lynx a name, in the same unofficial way that the crews frequently did.

I chose to recognize Giorgio Conforti, the gentleman who had the foresight to rescue the Lynx from a scrapyard and who in turn was quite enthusiastic to see the Lynx return to Canada.

His three sons, who are now young men, used the Lynx as a playground as young boys are wont to do. They ended up calling the Lynx, "Mita", which I understand to be a term of endearment, that was also used for their grandmother.

I have attached a picture of Giorgio and his three sons on the Lynx, when I first saw her.

Peter

[Giorgio Conforti]

Grazie Pietro,
sai che il mio Inglese non è buono ma devo per forza scrivere in Italiano per cercare di esprimere tutta la commozione che ho provato nel vedere queste foto. Pietro credimi, mi sono venuti gli occhi lucidi.
Ti voglio bene.
Giorgio Conforti e famiglia.

[lynx42]

Originally Posted by Giorgio Conforti

Grazie Pietro,
sai che il mio Inglese non è buono ma devo per forza scrivere in Italiano per cercare di esprimere tutta la commozione che ho provato nel vedere queste foto. Pietro credimi, mi sono venuti gli occhi lucidi.
Ti voglio bene.
Giorgio Conforti e famiglia.

Translated using google translator:

"Thanks Peter,
you know that my English is not good but I have to write in Italian to try to express all the emotion I felt in seeing these photos. Peter believe me, my eyes are bright.
I love you.
Giorgio Conforti and family."

Regards Rick.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by lynx42

Thanks Peter,
you know that my English is not good but I have to write in Italian to try to express all the emotion I felt in seeing these photos. Peter believe me, my eyes are bright.
I love you.
Giorgio Conforti and family.


Translated using google translator. regards Rick.

Absolutely fantastic. What a wonderful full circle story. Tears of joy hearing it!!

[James P]

Now THAT is super cool in the circle of life for your Lynx.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Peter and Giorgio,

That's a very nice story! The result of global collaboration driven by the same passion.

Hanno

Originally Posted by Peter Duggan

I was prepping the Lynx for this weekend's FMVA Bivouac and decided it was time to give the Lynx a name, in the same unofficial way that the crews frequently did.

I chose to recognize Giorgio Conforti, the gentleman who had the foresight to rescue the Lynx from a scrapyard and who in turn was quite enthusiastic to see the Lynx return to Canada.

His three sons, who are now young men, used the Lynx as a playground as young boys are wont to do. They ended up calling the Lynx, "Mita", which I understand to be a term of endearment, that was also used for their grandmother.

I have attached a picture of Giorgio and his three sons on the Lynx, when I first saw her.